Bill Positions

Bill Number: SB 270

Bill Title: Unemployment Insurance - Eligibility - Part-Time Work

Bill Sponsor(s): President (Administration), Sen. Kelley, et al

Subject: Unemployment Insurance

Committee: FIN

Bill Summary: This bill makes an individual whose availability to work is restricted to part-time work eligible for unemployment benefits, if the individual works predominantly throughout the year on a part-time basis for at least 20 hours per week. A part-time worker is eligible for benefits based on wages predominantly earned from part-time work; must be actively seeking part-time work; must be available for part-time work for at least the number of hours worked at the part-time worker’s previous employment; cannot impose any other restrictions on the part-time worker’s ability or availability to work; and must be in a labor market in which a reasonable demand exists for part-time work. A qualified part-time worker with a disability may not have the disability used as a disqualifying factor. A part-time worker is not considered to be unemployed if working all hours for which the part-time worker is available.

History: SB 328 died in ECM in 2008. In 2009 SB 270 was enacted as Chapter 5.

Chamber Position: Support

Position Summary: There is a need to adopt to a changing workplace, due to the fact that working a nine to five job is no longer the standard, and the part-time workforce has a stronger presence today, than in past decades. This bill establishes a separate category of worker/claimant. An Individual who has a history of only part-time work, works in an industry that primarily only hires part-time employees, and is only looking for part-time work is not “unemployed” and thus not eligible for benefits. For these reasons, the Maryland Chamber supported this bill.

Position Statement: Click here (pdf)

Chamber Staff: Allyson Black

General Assembly: Click here to view the bill on the Maryland General Assembly's website.